Houston will pick new state senator in December

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston voters will pick a new state senator in December to replace outgoing Democrat Sylvia Garcia, who was elected to Congress.

Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday set a special election for Dec. 11.

Two House Democrats, Carol Alvarado and Ana Hernandez, have already announced their candidacy.

The special election announcement comes after Garcia was elected this week to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Gene Green. Her victory made history along with Veronica Escobar of El Paso, who became the first Latinas in Texas elected to Congress.

Garcia’s state Senate seat is reliably Democratic. Democrats picked up two additional Senate seats this week but Republicans still have a comfortable majority in the chamber.